The difference between lucite holders and slabs

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Posted By: JK

Oh boy, here we go again:

"The main purpose of the slabs is not to protect cards, but to generate a huge revenue stream for the grading companies."

Incorrect - sure, like most businesses, these companies are doing what they do to earn a profit. There is nothing wrong with that - and if you think there is, perhaps you shouldnt be buying food from a grocery store, buying cars from auto dealerships, or taking your clothes to the dry cleaners (after all, they are all trying to make money as well). Oh, and the slabs do protect the cards pretty damn well (excluding the psa condem slabs).

"The grading companies realize that there is money to be made "slabbing cards," because they have created the illusion that if a card is slabbed "it's safer to buy." If it is slabbed then the card must be real, unaltered, not trimmed nor bleached or soaked. Unfortunately, this is nothing but an illusion, because every day cards are slabbed that are fakes, altered, trimmed, bleached, and soaked."

True and False - the grading companies have not "created an illusion". They catch far more fakes then they let pass. If you really think there wouldnt be more scams and fakes sold without grading companies, you are kidding yourself. Like it or not, they serve a purpose.


"The individuals that submit cards really have no idea who the person is at the grading company that will be giving their card a "subjective" grade. Having seen mistakes too numberous to mention, I can only imagine what qualifications and experiece or lack there of that some of these expert graders may have."

Yes, I do not know who is grading my cards. I also dont always agree with them. However, by choosing a company (SGC) that I feel does hire graders who are qualified I am doing all I can to avoid those problems. Further, I'd rather have the slabs "subjective" grade rather than rely on a dealer's (who is trying to make as much a profit as possible) subjective and usually inflated grade. At least with the grading company, there shouldnt be any conflict of interest.